Mastoid bandage



Patented Get. 28, 1924.

U N l T E D S 'l' E MAX BEILOCK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MASIOID VBANDAG'E.

Application filed November 6, 1922.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX BnILooK, a citizen of the United States, residin in New York, county and State of New ork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Masto-id Bandages, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a bandage adapted for use upon the human head following an operation for mastoiditis. In the past, following such an operation it has been the practice to cover the wound with a packing of sterilized absorbent cotton and to hold the same in position and thoroughly shield the wound against the air, by means of windings of linen or cotto-n strips crossing the packing and wound about the head of the patient and finally held by stitching or adhesive tape. Such, generally, is the universal practice at the present time.

The. wound must be dressed daily for many days following the operation and this requires unwinding the cloth strips to eX- pose the packing and the removal of the latter with the substitution of a fresh packing. Usually the drainage from the wound has penetrated the packing and several windings of t-he cloth strips so .that each dressing requires7 in addition to a fresh packing, a new set of the cloth strips. It is the object of the present invention toprovide a bandage which will ob-viate the necessity of employing the usual cloth strips and which will even more effectively protect the wound, while at the same time greatly reducing the time required to bandage the wound. Further objects are to render the dressing more sightly in appearance and permitting the patient to wear a hat of his usual size-which was an impossibility heretofore because of the bulk of the windings about the head.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingA drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the bandage upon the head of a patient, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the banda e.

gFig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the edge of the bandage to illustrate the construction thereof.

By reference to the drawing it will be seen that the bandage consists of a cupped shield A adapted to cover the ear and the mastoid. It is cupped so as to rebeive a Seriafl No. 599,228.

packing which I prefer to form of absorbent "'r cotton sterilized by heat and enclosed within a sterilized fabric coarsely woven of line strands, similar vto cheesecloth. These packings may be made up in advance so as to ber ready for each dressing operation.

The entire edge of the bandage carries a relatively soft metallic wire l. In the present embodiment the outer member or cover of the bandage at its edge is turned inwardly and over the wire so as to enclose the same, stitching 2 being employed to hold the wire in the pocket thus formed. The entire inner surface of the bandage is formed of impervious, moistureproof material such as rubber. I prefer to employ the construction illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the inner surface of the bandage comprises a rubber lining 3, held in position by the stitching 2 75 an integral part of the outer member. For

example,` a single ply of heavy fabric may be employed, with the inner face impregnated and coated with rubber subsequently vulcanized to aHord a lasting moistureproof surface. Or the entire body of the bandage may be formed of rubber.

The bandage is held in position upon the head by means of straps, which in the present instance consist of a transverse strap 4 which passes over the head centrally thereof, a strap 5 which leads from the lower margin of the bandage, thence to the side of the head opposite to that at which the bandage is placed, crossing the temple and being secured to the top of the bandage at its front margin. A short connecting strap 6 connects the top of the bandage at its rear margin with strap 5. However the bandage is adapted for use upon either right or left mastoid. By reversing its position from that shown in F ig. l the bandage may be applied to the left mastoid.

As hereinbefore stated it is deemed essential to cover the packing with a substantially air-proof covering,V I am able to Seal the edges of my bandage upon the head by means of the conforming marginal area thereof in conjunction with the action of the straps. rlhe soft wire, in practice, may be bent to shape the marginal area of the bandaee in strict conformity with the contour of the patients head, and the drawing action of Y may be provided.

the straps-which should be of elastic webbing or rubberfw'ill press the rubber inner surface of the bandage into close contact with the head.

Any suitable adjustments for the straps I have indicated one adjustment by means of the buckle 7 which will serve to permit variations in the lengthV of strap 5. A similar adjustment may be rovided for' strap 4L. In practice, however, 1t will be found desirable to eliminate al1 metal parts from the bandage, and to rely upon the elasticity of the straps and variations in sizes for adults and children, men and women, with the exception of the marginal wire which may consist of a non-cor rosive alloy of silver and zinc or any other suitable metal or combination of metals affordingV` the desired characteristics.

It will be understood that various modi* fcations may be made in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent being as follows:

A mastoid bandage comprising a cupped shield said shield comprising an outer member of Woven fabric and an inner member of rubber, a soft wire enclosed within the margin of the shield intermediate its two members, the inner rubber member projecting outwardly beyond said wire, and means for securing the bandage upon the head.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name'to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. Y

If MAX BEILOGK. Witnesses:

HELMS, Josera D. BOYLEK. 

